T-Shirts Manufacturer, Supplier & Exporter in Kenya

Kenya is East Africa's main import gateway, with Mombasa clearing cargo for Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan and eastern DR Congo, and Nairobi's wholesale districts supplying shops across the region.

Buyers here are importers in Nairobi and Mombasa supply wholesalers in Gikomba and Eastleigh and retail chains; school-uniform suppliers and workwear contractors buy ready-made lines.

Buyers want durable cotton T-shirts, jeans, school uniforms, kidswear, and hoodies; workwear sells to mining and construction firms.

Two rainy seasons and a mild climate allow year-round sales, with hoodies and jackets in cooler months. Demand peaks at back-to-school in January, May and August, plus Easter, Christmas and wedding seasons.

Imports are cleared through KRA's iCMS with an import declaration; some goods need a Certificate of Conformity under the pre-export verification programme. Confirm with a clearing agent.

Duties and taxes: Import duty plus VAT under the EAC Common External Tariff. Rates change, so confirm the HS code and duty with your customs broker before you finalise landed cost; we supply the invoice, packing list and certificate of origin needed for clearance.

A t-shirts order for Kenya should be planned backwards from the selling season. Two rainy seasons and a mild climate allow year-round sales, with hoodies and jackets in cooler months. Demand peaks at back-to-school in January, May and August, plus Easter, Christmas and wedding seasons. For t-shirts specifically, t-shirts sell round the year in warm markets and for spring-summer in cooler ones; promotional and event T-shirts spike before elections, tournaments and festivals. Our lead time is 30–45 days including dyeing and print approval; 20–25 days on stock knit fabric, plus sea transit of about 12–22 days, so we advise confirming orders early enough to land the goods before the peak rather than during it.

Typical buyers of t-shirts in Kenya include promotional-merchandise companies, retail chains and fast-fashion brands, wholesalers supplying street markets and event, sports and political organisers. Around Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu, they usually order 1,000–2,000 pieces per colour and style, falling to 500 pieces for stock colours with simple prints and reorder the styles that sell through, so we keep fabric, size ratios and labels on file for repeat shipments.

Because the climate in Kenya is hot, breathable fabrics move fastest. For t-shirts we recommend 100% combed cotton single jersey 160–200 GSM, with slub and melange cotton jersey as a value alternative, and we keep the heavier options for the cooler months only.

Sizes: S–3XL unisex and men's; women's XS–XL fitted; kids 2–14 years. Colours: Over 40 stock colours in reactive dye; Pantone matching available on bulk.

You are not limited to stock designs. We make t-shirts in bulk in the colour you choose, in the sizes and size ratio your customers wear, and in the design you supply for the Kenya market. A reference garment, a tech pack, a sketch or even a photograph is enough to start.

How it works: send a Pantone code or fabric swatch for colour and we return a lab-dip; send your size chart and the ratio you want in each carton; send artwork, print, embroidery or label files for the design. We make a sample for approval and then produce the bulk to that approved sample, so the order you receive matches the one you signed off.

The difference between a cheap T-shirt and a good one is mostly hidden: yarn count, fabric weight, collar recovery, taped shoulders and print durability. We specify these in the purchase order, and our checks confirm them on random cartons, including a wash test on a sample from each colour lot.

For printed and promotional orders, we can supply blanks and printing under one contract, which avoids the quality risk of mixing suppliers and shortens the total timeline.

Containers move by sea from Mundra, Kandla or Nhava Sheva to Mombasa, about 12–22 days. We quote FOB, CFR or CIF, and your clearing agent handles customs and local delivery in Kenya; we can coordinate with the forwarder you name.

Folded in individual polybags with size stickers, 50–100 pieces per carton; compressed packing available for freight savings. Before loading we share a photo, video and measurement report so you can approve what is in the container. Wash cold, inside out, tumble dry low; do not iron directly on prints.

Documents supplied with every shipment: commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin and bill of lading, plus test reports and compliance documents where your market asks for them. Payment terms: 50% advance with order confirmation and 50% before dispatch against export documents; L/C at sight can be discussed for larger orders.